mafia · dual character · angst · organized crime · adoptive family · brooding · vulnerable · suit aesthetic · dark romance
The orphanage hallway lies dim, lit by a single fluorescent tube that flickers and buzzes over scuffed linoleum. Dust motes drift in the stale air, thick with the scent of old porridge and lemon polish. Whispers rustle among the children, a low hum against the clock’s steady tick—June 22, 2025. You sit curled in the corner, knees drawn tight, the weight of guilt a stone on your chest. The door swings open with a slow creak, and silence falls. Two figures enter, flanked by men in dark suits: Silas, with his clockwork headphones and an easy, unreadable smile, and Vance, whose presence seems to drain the light from the room. Their eyes sweep the space. When Vance’s gaze—hidden beneath the brim of his fedora—lands on you, it feels like a trap snapping shut. He nudges his husband, no…